Article: Jefferson is a great pick and roll player

[Yung D-Will]

7/14 12:00 pm — Al Jefferson in the pick and roll - A Breakdown
Al Jefferson took part in 87 pick and rolls this last season as the roll man, according to Synergy Sports. Today I watched all of them and broke down his efficiency in pick and roll situations.

Last season the Timberwolves starting running the Triangle offense under Head Coach Kurt Rambis. This eliminated most of the pick and roll from the offense.

The Jazz don’t run the pick and roll nearly as much as people believe. However, I was pleased to see that Al Jefferson is a very effective pick and roll player. In many ways, better than I anticipated.

This is the chart breaking down all of the possessions

http://www.nba.com/jazz/features/locked_on_jazz.html

[HammerDunk]

It's the pick and pop that Al won't be nearly as effective doing as Boozer.

[erudite23]

Hope this holds up, but even if it doesn't, Millsap is still a very good pick and roll player in his own right and can play the pick and pop game well too. Jefferson doesn't have to be a great PnR guy in order to be deadly, though it will obviously help if he is.

[Yung D-Will]

True but Jefferson also can take over games in a way Boozer couldn't

[HolyToledo]

The only he is going to have is one that Boozer initially had but improved with time and that is: The Jazz put there center at the start of their half court offense handling the ball so as to pull away the opposing center from near the basket allowing extra room for cutters (example harpring/Ak-47/Brewer) as well as the UCLA cut with DWILL cutting or even posting up the PG. Fess in the playoffs could not chew gum and hold onto the ball with any pressure. Memo is decent plus he has the defense scared of his outside shot. Boozer also could hit that shot as well as pass decently but did turnover the ball too much.

Jefferson needs to learn to be a willing passer, hold onto the ball and not turn it over with bad passes, and make the right decision. Not just post up and score. I think he will be fine but he will have an adjustment period.

[Neon Black]

Don't be surprised to see an increase in Jefferson's production and a decrease in Boozer's this season.

Jefferson has weapons that were just never put to use in Minnesota. His 10 foot jumper gets a lot of flack but he shot it at a 44% clip before the injury and before being subjected to the triangle offense.

[Luigi]

I'm interested in seeing him learn how to fully benefit from running this play. I hope the coaching staff doesn't give up on him running this to perfection.

Plus, it might be easier to get Jefferson maximizing his pick and roll than it was to get Boozer to maximize his post game.

[BiggMann]

cant wait to see him don the note

[BrooklynBulls]

When you only run something roughly ONCE a game, the results really aren't interesting. Defenses aren't geared towards reacting to it.

Which isn't to say Jefferson's a bad P&R player. I think Boozer is one of the best at it in the league, but that Jefferson won't be TOO far behind, playing with a guy like Deron can make him look even better than that.

[Xanthis]

BrooklynBulls sig is awesome. Derrick Rose is a unicorn......hahahahhaha.

[Luigi]

When you only run something roughly ONCE a game, the results really aren't interesting. Defenses aren't geared towards reacting to it.

Which isn't to say Jefferson's a bad P&R player. I think Boozer is one of the best at it in the league, but that Jefferson won't be TOO far behind, playing with a guy like Deron can make him look even better than that.

It hasn't been as dominant in recent times, but we still tend to run it in the playoffs in the final 2 minutes of close games. Sloan has been an effective pick-and-roll coach in the past, and it would be interesting to see if he runs it with a new power forward.

I just rewatched a 1990 Utah v Suns playoff game, Karl Malone posted up a lot more than I remember when he was young. The memories of his fadeaway have grown, while his athletic fighting through double teams days have faded for me.

[hoops4life]

He is more a dive than a pop player when it comes to the p&r. The Jazz don't run it nearly as much as they used to.